We have a small deck at the back of the house and we use it regularly, eating out most dry evenings. The problem we have is there is very little shelter there and the wind tends to funnel between the house and garage. I made a long planter 3 years ago with the intention of growing a wall to act as a windbreak. I put in 3 box trees but they have not done very well there. perhaps 2 inches of growth in 3 years. They may have done a lot better if I had planted 5 trees not 3. But anyway, my plan is to relocate the box trees elsewhere and plant something that grows more vigorously.

Recently I built a second, slightly longer planter to give more shelter by the dining table and chairs. I will be filling it with soil this weekend, ready for planting.

Does anyone have a suggestion for what trees/shrubs would be good to plant in the containers? I have a very limited knowledge of planting.

I was leaning towards planting copper beech but that is just me not being very creative. Besides, I dont know how this variety would cope in a planter.

I am wide open to suggestions!! If this was your deck, what would you put in the planters to create an effective windbreak?

I don't think anything in the planters will give you the sort of shelter you are looking for. If I understand you correctly, does the prevailing wind come from the right of the photo, between the house and the garage ? If so, I would look at the possibility of erecting a strong trellis somewhere on that grassed area, and planting it up with creepers, and that should filter the wind for you. Or even plant a row of evergreen shrubs....but I'm not sure what is round that corner....do I see paving/a path ?

think you ned to consider plantig in the ground where Sive is suggetsing a trellis. Nothing grown in a planter box ill give you the long term sustainability and densing that you require for shelter. Containers such as planters and pots are by their nature restrictive. To get somthing large and ribust going, consider planting accross that gap. or a trllis as in Sive 's idea

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